Train lighting system



Jan. 21, 1936. J F R E ZflZSfiM TRAIN LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 7, 1935 Patented Jan. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAIN LIGHTING SYSTEM J oseph F. Frese, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Monitor Controller Company, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application October '7, 1935, Serial No. 43,983

3 Claims. (01. 171--313) This invention relates to a system for charging it is shown directly controlling the circuit of the storage batteries from variable speed generators, contactor switch which closes the charging cirsuch as are driven from car axles. Suitable field cuit, whereas in the present invention, it controls controlling devices are used with such generators the contactor in conjunction with an interlock to limit the maximum voltage to a predetermined relay E. The relay D has an energizing coil 9 5 value suitable for charging the battery and suppermanently connected across the terminals of plying current to translating devices on the load the generator, the circuit for this coil extending circuit, as is well known. Within that limit, the from the generator through conductors l and 8 generator voltage varies with the speed of the to coil 9, and thence by conductors H and 7 back generator, while the battery voltage will be high to the generator. The armature l2 of relay D 10 when the battery is fully charged and low when carries a contact piece l3 adapted to bridge stathe battery is run down. tionary contacts [4 and i5 when the relay is A contactor and controlling devices therefor are energized by the coil 9, but the armature is norusually provided for automatically connecting the inally held in open position by an adjustable 1;, generator to the storage battery when the voltage spring [0, with the contact 53 out of engagement )5 of the generator reaches a predetermined value, with the stationary contacts.

and in my Patent No. 1,973,804, dated September The relay E comprises a core I6 of any suitable 18, 1934, I have shown a reverse current relay form, shown as of U-shape, with an armature ll operable to close the contactor circuit when the pivoted to one pole piece and spring-pressed away generator voltage reaches a predetermined value. from the opposite pole piece by an adjustable 20 In the present invention the reverse current respring l8. The relay has a coil I9 permanently lay of the aforesaid patent is used to control the connected to the battery through conductors 5, contactor in conjunctionwith a relayhaving a coil 29, H and 9 and the current flowing in this coil constantly energized by current from the battery normally energizes the magnet suificiently to hold and normally preventing closure of the circuit the armature against the pole pieces of the mag- 25 of the contactor, and having also a coil adapted net, thus holding an insulated contact 2! on the to be connected to the generator by the reverse armature away from stationary contacts 22 and current relay, and, when so connected, adapted 23. The magnet also has a coil 24 which is to neutralize the magnetizing efiect of the batadapted to be connected to the generator termitery-connected coil when and if the voltage of the nals by the reverse current relay D, and this coil 30 generator is above that of the battery, but not is wound so as to oppose the coil l8. The circuit otherwise. When the efiect of the battery coil is for the coil 24 is from the positive side of the overcome by the generator coil, the contactor cirgenerator through conductors i and 25 to the cuit is closed and the contactor connects the coil, thence by conductor 26 to switch contacts l4, generator to the battery. Thus, the contactor l3, and I5 of relay D and thence by conductors cannot close the charging circuit except when the 21, i i and l to the generator. When the switch generator voltage is above the battery voltage. of relay D closes, the coil 24 of relay E is con- In the accompanying drawing which illustrates nected to the generator, and under certain condithe invention diagrammatically, A indicates a tions of operation this coil neutralizes the efiect 49 d rect Cu t generator Operable at a y of the permanently energized battery coil l6,and 0 speeds, as when driven from a car axle, and B1 inth th spring 53 moves th armature n t dicates a battery which is kept charged by the switch closing position. When this occurs the coil generator- The charging circuit from the genera" 28 of contactor C is energized through a circuit tor to the battery indicated in heavy lines which extends from the generator through contends from the positive pole of the gengramr by ductor 1 to said coil, thence by conductor 29 to 45 conductor a through normally open swltch 2 9 contacts 22, 2 l, and 23 of relay E, thence by concontactor C, thence by conductor 3 through coil d uctors 39 and 25 to contacts [4, l3, and I5 of 4 of reverse current relay D to conductor 5 which 1 d h b A t I I d 1 leads to the positive side of the battery. Conre ay D an y comma Ors ductors 6 and I connect the negative side of the to generator' when the Contacwr c011 28 1s 50 battery to the negative pole of the generator energized, the switch 2 closes and connects the When the contactor C is closed, it connects the generator to the battery- At the Same tune the generator with the battery. contactor lifts a switch member 3| which opens The reverse current relay D is the same as that a shunt about a resistance 32 in series with the 55 shown in my patent before mentioned, wherein energizing coil 9 of relay D, to cut down the cur- 55 rent flowing through said coil, this feature being disclosed in my aforesaid patent.

When the generator is stopped, the movable members of the relays and contactor are in the positions shown, the switch of relay E being held open magnetically by current flowing in the coil 8'9 which is permanently connected to the battery terminals. When the generator starts and after its speed has increased so that its voltage has a predetermined value, suitable for normal charging of the battery, the current flowing in the energizing coil 9 of reverse current relay D causes this relay to close and thereby connect the coil 24 of the interlock relay E to the generator terminals. This coil 25, which may be termed the generator coil, is wound so as to oppose the battery coil it. If the generator voltage is less than the battery voltage, the generator coil will not neutralize the magnetizing eflect of the battery coil i9, and the armature of the interlock relay will not be released, and hence the circuit of the contactor C will not be closed and the contactor will not connect the generator to the battery; but if and when the generator voltage rises above the battery voltage, whatever that may be, the current in the coil 24 of the interlock relay will neutralize the magnetizing effect of the battery coil, and the spring It will rock the armature H to connect the contacts 2|, 22, and 23, and thus complete the circuit to the coil 28 of the contactor C. The contactor will then close, connecting the generator to the battery. The reverse current relay D controls the circuit of the generator coil of the relay E, and if the generator speed slows down until the voltage of the generator is less than that of the battery, current will flow from the battery to the generator through the coil 4 of relay D, weakening the magnetizing effect of the coil 9, and the relay armature will be moved by the spring M to open the circuit of the generator coil 24 on the interlock relay and at the same time open the circuit of the contactor magnet. The permanently energized battery coil I6 will then prevail and the armature I! will be moved to the position shown in the drawing, opening the circuit to the coil of the contactor C. The contactor will immediately open the circuit connection between the generator and the battery. It will be seen from this that the coils of the relay E are balanced against one another when the generator coil is connected to-the generator so that if the generator voltage is less than the battery voltage, the generator coil will not neutralize the effect of the battery coil and the relay will not close the contactor circuit; but when the generator voltage increases to a predetermined value above the battery voltage, the generator coil will neutralize the effect of the battery coil and the spring l8 will move the armature I! to close the circuit of the contactor coil and the contactor will operate to connect the battery to the generator.

What I claim is:

1. In a train lighting system, a storage battery, a variable speed generator for charging the battery, a charging circuit including a normally open contactor, a normally open circuit for connecting the magnet of said contactor to the generator and means controlling said latter circuit to close the same only when the generator voltage is above the battery voltage comprising a relay having a coil constantly energized by current from the battery and having a switch biased to closed position but normally held in open position by the magnetizing efiect of said coil and having also a coil adapted to be connected to the generator and to neutralize the magnetizing efiect of the battery coil when the generator voltage is above the battery voltage, thereby to permit said switch to close, and a relay responsive to generator voltage adapted to connect said generator coil to the generator at a predetermined generator voltage.

2. In a train lighting system, a storage battery, a variable speed generator for charging the battery, a charging circuit including a normally open contactor, a normally open circuit for connecting the magnet of said contactor to the generator and means controlling said latter circuit to close the same only when the generator voltage is above the battery voltage comprising a relay having acoil constantly energized by current from the battery and having a switch biased to closed position but normally held in open position by the magnetizing effect of said coil and having also a coil adapted to be connected to the generator and to neutralize the magnetizing eifect of the battery coil when the generator voltage is above the battery voltage, thereby to permit said switch to close, and a reverse current relay responsive to generator voltage adapted to connect said generator coil to the generator at a predetermined generator voltage.

3. In a train lighting system, a storage battery, a variable speed generator for charging the battery, a charging circuit including a normally open contactor, a normally open circuit for connecting the magnet of said contactor to the generator and means controlling said latter circuit to close the same only when the generator voltage is above the battery voltage comprising a relay having a coil constantly energized by current from the battery and having a switch biased to closed position but normally held in open position by the magnetizing efiect of said coil and having also a coil adapted to be connected to the generator and to neutralize the magnetizing effect of the battery coil when the generator voltage is above the battery voltage, thereby to permit said switch to close, and a relay responsive to generator voltage adapted to connect said generator coil tothe generator at a predetermined generator voltage and also to connect one side of the contactor magnet circuit to the generator.

- JOSEPH F. FRESE. 

